Register operating mechanism



March 12, 1946.. c. F. ROOT REGISTER O PERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR. CHARLES E ROOT 1W V901 ATTORNEYS March 12, 1946. c R001- 2,396,390

REGISTER OPERATING MECHANISM 7 Filed Sept. 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 min-n INVENTOR. CHARLES F. ROOT 0M I JP/Q7.

ATTORNEYS March 12, 1946. c F, ROOT 2,396,390

REGISTER OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Sept. 29, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /S10rh'n osifion 9P Neutral posmon Storfingposiflon fits--8 INVENT OR. CHARLES F.ROOT

ATTORNEY S Patented Mar. 12, 1946 REGISTER OPERATING MECHANISM Charles F. Root, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Chandler & Price Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a

corporation of Ohio Application September 29, 1942, Serial N 0. 460,078

14 Claims. (01. l414) The present improvements, relating as indicated to register operating mechanism, have more particular regard to registry devices carried by the platen of a press in which such platen has oscillatory movement. A particular field of use for such a registry device is fbund in printing presses of the so-called Gordon type, in which the sheet to be printed is placed on the face of an oscillatory platen when in open position and incidentally to closing of the platen such sheet may require to be shifted into register with suitable stops on the face of the platen which determine its correct position for printing.

A number of different kinds of such registry devices have been heretofore produced and commercially employed, but so far as I am aware the operation of these devices has been dependent upon operation, i. e. oscillation, of the platen. As a matter of fact in the case of Gordon type printing presses such devices have ordinarily been associated with the gripper fingers, the operation of which, as is well known, is accomplished by means of an arm or the like which projects from the shaft carrying the gripper fingers and is adapted to engage a fixed part. of the press during one stage of the platens oscillation. A registry device of this type is disclosed in my prior Patent No. 1,715,585, dated May 14, 1929. However, one result of the association of the registry device with the gripper fingers, or any mode of operation of the device which is dependent upon movement of the platen which carries the device, is to limit both the timing and character of movement which can be thus imparted to the latter.

One principal object, accordingly, of the present improvements is to provide means for operating such a registry device, carried by an oscillatory platen, which means are independent of the movement of said platen. Another object is to provide a registry device which may be adjusted for movement not only of varying amplitude but also in different directions, as may be desired.

Still another object is to provide means whereby the device may be readily rendered entirely in operative, in case no special registering operation should be required.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of a printing press of the Gordon type, only such parts thereof including the oscillatory platen being shown as are required to illustrate my improved registry device attached to such platen and the means for operating such device;

Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the oscillatory platen of the press illustrated in Fig. 1, showing my device with operating means attached thereto;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of such platen and attached parts, as viewed from below in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the lines 44 on Figs. 2 and 3 respectively;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the plane indicated by the line 55, Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view similar to that of Fig. 1 but on a somewhat larger scale and showing the oscillatory platen and the operating means for the registry device in a. different operative position; V

Fig. 7 is a plan view more or less diagrammatic in character of the registry device viewed as in Fig. 2 but in a different position in relation to the platen; and

Fig. 8 is a wholly diagrammatic view illustrating both the capacity for adjustment and for movement of such registry device.

As previously indicated, my improved registry mechanism finds a particular field of use in connection with Gordon type printing presses and the parts, so far as shown in the several figures of the drawings, pertain to a press of this type, viz., a main frame member I, a platen 2 oscillatorily mounted in the main frame about a shaft 3, and a main drive shaft 4 which is operatively connected by suitable means, not shown, with said platen to oscillate the same in desired fashion. Other parts of the press have been omitted since they have no direct relation to the mechanism of present interest. The platen 2 is shown in Fig. 1 in its open or sheet receiving position and in Fig. 6 in its closed position in which it is pressed against the type form so as to imprint such sheet. The location of the latter on the face of the platen is determined by gauge pins or stops 5 adjustably secured thereto in familiar fashion, two such gauge pins 5 (see Fig. 2) as usual being arranged transversely parallel with the lower edge of the platen and a third one which constitutes an end stop being located adjacentthe right hand edge thereof. After a sheet has been placed on the platen in open position and before it is printed it requires to be brought accurately into engagement by a downward and laterally shifting movement with these gauge pins and it is for this purpose that the registry device now to be described is provided.

The various usual accessories of the platen, including the gripper fingers whereby the sheet 6 is held against the face thereof during the printing operation, have been omitted from the several figures of the drawings although the shaft '1 which carries such gripper fingers is shown, such shaft as usual being oscillatorily mounted in brackets 8 which project beyond the respective sides of the platen adjacent its lower edge.

The principal element of the registry device is an arm it that is provided at its outer or free end with resilient sheet receiving and gripping fingers l l of usual construction, such arm being mounted for oscillatory movement across the lower face of the platen. In the specific construction illustrated (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3), said arm is thus mounted on a stub shaft or spindle 12, being secured thereto by a clamp nut IS on the upper threaded end of such spindle which passes through a slot M in the arm so that the latter may be adjusted to extend a variable distance across the face of the platen, as desired. The spindle I2 is journalled in a U-shaped member M which is slidably supported on a guide rod l5, and a parallel shaft l6, both of which are carried by projections I! that extend from the brackets 8 in which the gripper shaft 1 is journalled. The one arm of member l4 which thus slidably engages the guide if: is provided with a clamp screw I8 whereby the member may be held in adjusted position along such guide and the parallel shaft it. Mounted on said shaft, adjacent the other arm of member [4, is a bevel pinion l9 which meshes with a mating pinion 20 on the lower end of the spindle I2. By means of a set screw 2 I, bevel pinion l9 may be made loose on shaft I6 to permit member 14 with the parts carried thereby to be shifted therealong;v then upon setting such screw said pinion will be secured to the shaft so that oscillation of the latter will in turn oscillate spindle l2 and the arm ll] of the registry device proper.

The operation of such registry device proper may be appropriately indicated at this point. Assuming a sheet 6 to have been placed on the face of the platen in its open position, as shown in Fig. 2, the arm ID will be adjusted transversely and vertically of the platen so that the fingers I l at its free end will be disposed to receive and engage the lower edge of such sheet at approximately its mid point. If then the sheet is to be registered against a stop at the right, as shown in Fig. 2, member I!) requires to be swung in a clockwise direction, the effect of which is at the same time to bring the lower edge of the sheet against the lower, transversely aligned stops 5. If, on the contrary, the side gauge pin or stop is located at the left, a swinging movement in a counterclockwise direction isrequired. In both cases such movement is carried to the point where the sheet receiving and gripping fingers on member will entirely clear the sheet so as to be out of the way for the printing operation.

For the purpose of imparting such desired movements to the arm ID of the registry device, the following means for operating oscillatory shaft it are provided. Attached to one end of said shaft (the right hand end as shown in several figures) is a short lever arm 25 which is connected by means of a link 26 with a rocker 21 that is pivo-tally mounted on a stub shaft 28 affixed to the adjacent side of the platen through the medium of a bracket 29.

Said rocker includes a plate 27a formed with a slot to which the corresponding end of link 26 is adjustably connected by means of a threaded screw 3| and clamp nut 32, as best shown in Fig. 5, there being a spacing sleeve or bushing 31a. about the screw 38 to space the nut 32 from the plate 21a sufficiently to allow freedom of movement of the link 26 between the nut and plate while riding on the bushing. As will appear upon an inspection of the parts as shown in Figs. land 6, the latter showing such parts on slightly'larger scale, the slot thus provided in the rocker 21 includes an intermediate approximately straight'portion 533 which intersects the axis of the stub shaft 23 upon which the rocker is oscillatorily mounted. Such slot also includes two oppositely extending arcuate portions 34 and 35 which are continuous with such intermediate portion and are scribed about the axis of the connection of lever 26 with the outer end of link 25 when the parts are positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, i. e. when the platen is in open position. The varying operative effect which may be secured by shifting the connection of link 26 along the cam slot on rocker 2? will presently be explained in connection with the general operation of the device.

Oscillatory movement is imparted to rocker 21, coincidentally with oscillation of the platen 2 by means of flexible operating connections between the same and the main drive shaft 4 of the press. These connections, as most completely shown on Fig. 1, comprise as a main actuating element a disk cam it, carried by a secondary shaft 4| that is connected with said main shaft by a train of gears 42, i3 and 4d. Said cam, it will accordingly be seen, will be rotated in timed relation to the oscillatory movement of the platen which is derived, as previously explained, from the same main shaft 5, and as illustrated, such cam is designed to be rotated in clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow thereon. Pivotally attached to main frame member I at a point 46 located intermediately between main shaft 2 and secondary shaft ll is a double-arm lever 41. The lower end of such lever is provided with a roller 48 that is maintained in contact with the edge of cam 40 by means of a tension spring 49 attached at one end to the upper arm of the lever and at the other to a fixed point on the machine frame. The upper end of the lever is then connected by means of a link 5%] with an appropriate point on the rocker 21, with the result that as cam 40 rotates and causes the lower end of the lever to swing, the upper end thereof will be oppositely swung and through such link connection cause the rocker to oscillate. It will be observed that the path of swinging movement of such upper lever end, as indicated by the dotted line a-a, Fig. 1, .passes through the axis of the main shaft 3. It will be further observed that the edge of cam 30 through approximately one-half of its extent is scribed on the arc of a circle about the axis of the shaft on which such cam is mounted, the radius of such circlebeing such that when the roller 48 is riding this part of the cam the pivotal connection between the upper end of lever Q1 and link 59 will be maintained in alignment with the axis of said main shaft 3. In this position of the parts. accordingly, oscillatory movement of the platen will have no effect on the connections proferred to, is such as to impart a swinging movement to lever 41 and thus to rocker 21, such movement being most rapid as the roller leaves such arcuate portion at the point on the cam edge having the shortest radius, and then being more gradually brought back to the point of maximum radius corresponding with that of the arcuate portion of the cam.

Having thus described with sumcient detail the construction of the several parts comprised in my improved registry mechanism, and the operation of such parts individually, the generalmodeof operation may be set forth. When no use is to be made of the registry device, the finger l which carries the sheet receiving and carrying fingers, may be held stationary in the vertical position relative to the lower edge of the platen illustrated in Fig. 1 by moving the end of link 26 which is connected with rocker 2! so as to be in direct alignment with the pivotal axis of such rocker. In this condition of the parts in question, such oscillation of the rocker as will be imparted thereto by a swinging movement of'double-arm lever 41 will have no effect on the rock shaft 15 or thus on the finger I0 which is interconnected with such rock shaft through the bevel pinions 20 and 2|.

When arm I0 is to be utilized, the connection between such link 26 and rocker 21 is shifted along the cam slot therein in one direction or the other depending on whether said arm'is to be swung to the right or left as viewed in Fig. 1. Assuming that swinging movement to the right is desired, the nut 32 is loosened and the link end in question moved from its position in alignment with the axis of the rocker downwardly in the straight portion of the slot and entered in the in the proper direction to shift the sheet into registry with the bottom and side gauge pins or stops ,5. The amount of such shifting movement will depend upon the size of the sheet and its registered location on the platen, and a corresponding degree of movement may be imparted to the finger by proper adjustment of the connection of link 26 with the corresponding arcuate portion of the cam slot in rocker 21. It will of course be understood that such swinging movement will require to be sufficient not only to bring the sheet thus into register, but to clear the sheet entirely of engagement with the fingers on the arm ID. Thus, as diagrammatically indicated on Fig. 8, such swinging movement of the arm may be from starting position to positions indicated by radial lines a and b, or any intermediate position. As previously explained, the contour of cam 40 is designed to effect such actuation of arm 10 promptly as the platen is being closed; then the arm is brought back to its starting position as the platen opens and the sheet is being removed, and it will be retained in this position without any movement until the cycle is complete.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that my improved sheet registering mechanism, by reason of its unique operative connection with the main drive of the press, may be positively actu-.

ated independently of the oscillatory movement of the press platen. At the same time the mech anism contains provision'for all of the adjustments which may be desired in the movement of the arm which carries the sheet receiving and adjacent arcuate portion of the latter where it is then secured by tightening the nut at a selected point. The effect of such movement of the link end through the straight portion of the slot Will be to displace arm l0 which carries the sheet receiving and engaging finger from its neutral vertical position, shown in Fig. 2, through an arc of approximately 15 (see Fig. 7) to the starting position which is desirably thus at an angle. .The further movement of the end of link 26 in the arcuate portion of the cam slot on rocker 21 will of course not disturb this starting position of member ID; however, depending upon how far along such arcuate portion of the-slot such link end is adjusted and secured by tightening clamp nut 32, the amplitude of the oscillatory movement imparted to rock shaft i5 and thus to arm H) will be correspondingly varied. In case it is desired to swing arm ID to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2, the connection between link 26 and the cam slot on rocker will be shifted in the opposite direction with corresponding effect to that just described.

Whether the arm H] be set for swinging movement to the right or the left in order correspondingly to displace a sheet engaged by the fingers thereon, it necessarily requires to be held in the starting position indicated by one or the-other of the lines so marked on the diagram of Fig. 8 until the sheet to be registered has-been deposited on the platen. This accordingly is the position in which such finger is held when the platen is open, but immediately following initiation of the closing movement said arm requiresto'be swun carrying fingers both in the matter of direction and amplitude of such movement. The several means for affecting such adjustment, moreover,

are readily accessible and may be easily set as desired. In connection with the foregoing adjusting means, it is to be noted that swinging movement of the arm which carries the sheet engaging fingers, whether such movement is of maximum amplitude or less, will occur during the same period inthe press cycle and will occupy the same allotted time. As a result, since for the handling of most sizes of sheets only a relatively short movement of the arm is required, the speed of such movement is reduced and quick, jerky movement by the same token, is avoided. This is an important advantage, particularly in the handling of thin sheets, which are easily torn or wrinkled if not moved gently.

While my invention has been described particularly in relation to the registration of sheets on the platen or a Gordon type printing press, it will be understood that it is equally adaptable for the handling or placement of other articles instead of sheets of paper or the like on a similarly oscillating platen in any machine of the general character described.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, means adjustable in all platen positions for oscillating said device, said means including variable throw mechanism at the end of the platen outside its zone of movement, and other means positively operatively connecting said first named means with the main drive of the press independently of said platen.

2. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, and means reversible without disassembly for operating said device, including an adjustable rocker at the end of the platen outside it zone of movement and being adjustable fOr movement in either direction, and other means positively operatively connecting said first-named means with the main drive of the press independently of said platen.

3. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, and means including a Variable rocker and link connection at the end of and outside aid platen for oscillating said device independently of the platen, said means being accessible for adjusting externally of the press, and other means positively operatively connecting said first-named means with the main drive of the press independently of said platen.

4. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen and gripper mechanism, the combination of a guide and a rock shaft attached to the edge of such platen in parallel relation thereto, a supporting member adapted to be adjustably positioned along such guide and shaft, a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted on said member for oscillatory movement on the face of suchplaten, gearing carried by said member operatively connecting said device with said shaft irrespective of the position of said member therealong, and means outside the zone of movement of the platen for operating said shaft independently of the platen and gripper mechanism.

5. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft attached to such platen and having a connection to said sheet receiving and carrying device, a rocker at the end of said platen outside its zone of movement, link and lever means connecting said rocker and rock shaft, and other means positively operatively connecting said rocker with the main drive of the press independently of said platen.

6. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft attached to such platen edge and operatively connected with said device, a rocker at the end of said platen outside its zone of movement, means operatively connecting said rocker 'with the main drive of the press independently of said platen, and link and lever connections between said rocke and rock shaft, said connections bein adjustable to vary the arc through which said shaft is rocked.

'7. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft at tached to such platen edge and operatively connectedwith said device, a rocker at the end of said platen outside its zone of movement, means operatively connecting said rocker with the main drive of the press independently of said platen, and link and. lever connections between said rocker and rock shaft, said connections being adjustable to vary the are through which said shaft is rocked and also to rock said shaft in either direction as desired.

8. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft attached to such platen edge and. operatively connected with said device, a rocker mounted on said platen, means operatively connecting said rocker with the main drive of the press independently of said platen, said rocker having a slot, a lever attached to said rock shaft, and a link connected at one end to said lever and at its other end adjustably connected to such, slot in said rocker.

9. In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an. oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft attached to such platen edge and operatively connected with said device, a rocker mounted on said platen, means operatively connecting said rocker with. the main. driveof the press independently of said platen, said rocker arm having a slot comprising two connected arcuate portions extending in opposite directions from its axis, and a link connected at one end to said lever and at its other end adjustably connected to such slot in said rocker.

10; In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft attached to such platen edge and operatively connected with said device, a rocker mounted on said platen, means operatively connecting said rocker with the main. drive of the press independently of said'platen, said rocker arm having a slot comprising two arcuate portions concavely facing said rock shaft and an. intermediate connecting portion intersecting the axis of aid rocker, and a link connected at oneend to said lever and at its other end'adjustably connected to such slot in said rocker.

11, In sheet registering mechanism for a press having an oscillatory platen, the combination of a sheet receiving and carrying device mounted for oscillatory movement on the face of such platen adjacent one edge thereof, a rock shaft attatched to such platen edge and operatively connected with said device, a rocker mounted on said platen and partaking of the oscillatory movement thereof, operating connections between said rock shaft and rocker, a lever having an end disposed to swing across the axis of oscillation of said platen, a link connecting said rocker with such e er end, and a cam connected with the main drive of the press for swinging said lever, said cam having one portion shaped to retain the rocker-connected end of said lever in alignment with such platen axis.

12. In a machine of the character described having driving means, the combination with an oscillatory platen and a device carried by said platen for handling material thereon, and means including a slotted rocker outside the zone of movement of said platen for actuating aid device aaeasoo independently or the platen, and an operating connection between said rocker and the driving means.

13. In a machine of the character described having driving means, the combination with an oscillatory platen and a device carried by said platen for handling material thereupon, means including opposed links and an intermediate variable rocker outside the zone of movement of said platen for actuating said device independently of the platen, and an operating connection between said rocker and the driving means.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with an oscillatory platen and a device carried by said platen fo handling material thereon, of a rocker mounted on said platen and partaking of the oscillatory movement there- 01', said rocker being operatively connected with said device, a lever having an end disposed to swing across the axis of oscillation of said platen, a link connecting said rocker with such lever end, and a cam connected with the main drive of the press for swinging said lever, said cam having one portion shaped to retain the point of connection of said link and the rocker-connected end of said lever in alignment with such platen axis.

CHARLES F. ROOT. 

